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The snow has arrived in the Valley and with it comes low-pressure systems. With the low-pressure systems comes excellent winter fishing. The current weather should end all the hatches except for the Midges, which should carry the fish and anglers through the winter. This also means fish will become opportunists and begin to chase down Streamers with abandon. The Nymphing should stay steady with anglers that are using middle-sized standards like Prince Nymphs and Hares Ears.
Silver Creek will remain open to all catch-and-release fishing from the Highway 20 Bridge downstream to Picabo. This can be a really fun time of the year on the Creek as it is virtually abandoned by anglers. Dress for the weather with fingerless gloves, a good neck gator, hat and warm coat. Then get out your favorite Streamer box and start fishing your way down through the Highway 20 meadow waters, the Willows, Point of Rocks and the Picabo Bridge area. Your best bet is unweighted streamers. Fish the cut banks and the holes, but also be sure there are plenty of fish that will remain in the shallow waters. This is especially true on a sunny, cold day, as the fish will pull up onto shallow banks to feed and sun themselves.
The Big Wood River is one of the best winter fisheries in the West. This is especially true when you think about the dry-fly opportunities that present themselves throughout the winter months. To find these Midge hatches, try to be on the water sometime around 11 a.m. They can start, stop or continue all day until around 4 p.m. The more snow we have on the day you are fishing, the better chance you will see these hatch events. The dry-fly activity will also pick up as the season progresses. Normally by Christmas the hatches are in full swing, but it’s not too early to find them now. If you fish the Midge as a dry fly, have Griffiths Gnats and Tie-Down Midges. Fish them in tandem with the Tie-Down Midge as the trailing fly.
The Lost River, the South Fork of the Boise and the Little Wood River are all possibilities for anglers, as well. If you head to these destinations, use the same winter setups for fly choice as you would on Silver Creek and the Wood, but be careful driving to these rivers. Check road conditions, take emergency gear, and be safe!
Happy fishing, everyone!
